Emergency Lette

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
WASHINGTON, DC 20410

December 14, 2021

Tyler Glotfelty
OMB Desk Officer
Office of Management and Budget
New Executive Office Building
Washington, DC 20503
Dear Mr. Glotfelty:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is seeking emergency
review of the Paperwork Reduction Act requirements contained in the Correspondence Tracking
System (CTS) P228. The Notice of Paperwork Submission (copy enclosed), proposed for
immediate Federal Register publication, explains the burden of the collection requirements, and
invites public comments on them. This is a new information collection.
In compliance with the requirements of 5 CFR 1320.13, HUD formally requests an
Emergency Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) review and approval within 7 days from the date of
publication, to authorize the use of the Public Access Link (PAL). This emergency processing is
critical to our continued support to the communities we serve and the execution of a key element
of the Department’s Strategic Plan: Support to Underserved Communities.
In March of 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act)
was signed into law, placing a partial moratorium on evictions across the country due to the
COVID 19 pandemic. However, with the expiration of Federal and State eviction moratoriums,
hundreds of thousands of families across the country are forced to reckon with the fact they may
have to catch up on missed payments or face eviction brought on from the pandemic.
This PAL initiative will expedite and streamline the collection of information from the
public contacting the Secretary of HUD seeking Homeowner Assistance Funds (HAF),
preventing mortgage delinquencies and defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy
services, and displacement of homeowners experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19.
Additionally, with ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19 transmission and potential
future spikes in local rates and newer variants, HUD is concerned about the urgent needs of
tenants facing evictions and foreclosures caused by work stoppage and their continued inability
to pay rent and mortgages. The Department cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance
procedures because overwhelmed normal clearance procedures is likely to prevent or disrupt the
collection of data needed to assist the public. Approval of this request will prevent the undue
burden, significant difficulty, or expense to the public.
www.hud.gov

espanol.hud.gov

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In order to respond to this growing crisis and to better serve tenants and homeowners, HUD has
created a streamlined method for the submission and expeditious processing of increased public
inquiries using the CTS web-based portal.
Sincerely,

JOZETTA
ROBINSON

Digitally signed by: JOZETTA ROBINSON
DN: CN = JOZETTA ROBINSON C = US
O = U.S. Government OU = Department
of Housing and Urban Development,
Office of Administration
Date: 2021.12.14 17:25:56 -05'00'

Jozetta R. Robinson
Director, Executive Secretariat

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